Herrell and Torres Small are running in the 2nd Congressional District race Nov. 6.

In a television campaign ad being broadcast statewide, Galea says “…I’m a Republican, but I can’t support her (Herrell) for Congress.

“Yvette Herrell is an insider who can’t be trusted,” she says during the ad. “Vote Xochitl Torres Small for Congress.”

In the ad, Torres Small says, “I’m proud to have the support of former Mayor Susie Galea, who recognizes we need new leadership in Washington.”

In an email to the Daily News, Herrell’s Senior Advisor Rob Burgess said he is surprised by the ad.

“This vague and undefined attack from Susie Galea is surprising considering that Yvette Herrell has always been a champion for Alamogordo and Otero County,” Burgess stated in the email. “Our campaign, and frankly voters, aren’t concerned about an attack from a disgruntled former elected official who doesn’t even live in the 2nd Congressional District. Rather, the focus is on Yvette’s message of taking our shared values to Washington, D.C.”

Galea was first elected to Alamogordo’s mayoral seat in 2012 when Commissioners selected who would represent the city as mayor, but Galea was voted out by Commissioners in December 2013. Another Commissioner was voted in as mayor thereafter.

Galea was elected Mayor-at-Large in March 2014. She was to serve a four-year term, but she resigned in February 2016 citing medical issues with her children.

During Galea’s reign as mayor, Galea and the City were found in violation of the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act after a 12th Judicial District judge ruled that Galea’s Facebook page was subject to inspection under (IPRA).

According to 12th Judicial District Court records, Wendy Irby filed a public records request with the City to inspect a Facebook page established by Galea, who was Alamogordo’s mayor at the time, and the City denied her request. The City’s explanation for denying the request was that Galea’s Facebook was not a public record under IPRA because Galea did not create the page “on behalf” of the City.

In 2017, the City settled their IPRA case with Irby by paying all the attorney’s fees and court costs, records show.

“They claimed they destroyed them all that they couldn’t find them,” said Blair Dunn, who was Irby’s attorney. “I am not a big Susie fan for that reason. I think she wasted a lot of taxpayer money. I don’t know if Susie has any credibility about good government. It is in no way an endorsement of Herrell.”

Democratic Party of Otero County Chair Nadia Sikes said she appreciated Galea’s endorsement.

“I appreciate Alamogordo’s former mayor endorsing our very qualified CD-2 candidate Torres Small – demonstrating that she, the former mayor, is endorsing the person over the party,” Sikes said.

In a 2017 Daily News article, a former City utility manager settled his discrimination suit against the City for $500,000.

According to federal court documents, the lawsuit claims former Mayor Galea undertook a publicity campaign to admonish and shame Armando F. Ortega in media outlets that was in violation of the City’s charter and policies.

Galea began a letter-writing via email to members of the public demanding a “criminal investigation” of Ortega, records show.

Galea also posted on Facebook, sent emails and conducted a public meeting to berate Ortega, according to records.

Alamogordo City Commissioner Al Hernandez who changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican said he has concerns about the ad.

“I would be concerned supporting somebody like Xochitl with the fact she is using Susie in one of her ads,” Hernandez said. “The fact that she (Galea) doesn’t have much clout whether she was a Republican or not. I would not ask Susie for an endorsement or recommendation or nothing to do with me. It kind of scares me. We’re talking politics that’s a scary situation. I don’t know if I would want that recommendation on my behalf.”

In a 2014 Daily News article, during a Commission meeting, City Commissioners discussed passing a no confidence ordinance to hold Commissioners accountable but Galea objected to it.

Also, at the 2014 meeting Commissioners revealed Galea had eight complaints against her because Galea commented or wrote on social media about hostile work environment issues between city employees.